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No. 1 pick powering up in Minors

No. 1 pick powering up in Minors

By John Torenli
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Special to MLB.com |

Lonnie Chisenhall could get used to this.

The former first-round pick belted a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs for the second straight game Wednesday, but the Kinston Indians came up short in a 9-8 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at BB&T Coastal Field.

Chisenhall, who earned New York-Penn League midseason All-Star honors last year, drew a bases-loaded walk before belting his first career grand slam in Tuesday's 15-5 rout of the Pelicans.

The 20-year-old shortstop was at it again Wednesday, ripping an RBI double in the opening frame before connecting for his second homer of the season, another slam, in the sixth.

"Both times I hit the ball out of the yard, I really wasn't trying to," admitted Chisenhall, who hit .290 with five homers and 45 RBIs in 68 games during his pro debut at short-season Mahoning Valley last year. "It really isn't part of my approach at all."

After walking in the seventh, Chisenhall had an opportunity to bolster his already impressive early-season numbers and put the Indians ahead. But he popped out to shortstop with a runner at first to end the game.

"We were really hoping for the sweep," said Chisenhall, who was originally selected by the Pirates in the 11th round of the 2006 Draft before opting to attend the University of South Carolina. "I just got a fastball in and couldn't turn on it."

Chisenhall drove in four runs in his first 11 Carolina League games but has jumped into third place in RBIs following his two-game outburst. He is batting .304 with two homers and 14 RBIs through 13 contests.

"I could used to it," Chisenhall said. "This is pretty exciting. I wasn't looking to hit a grand slam, but the ball just got out of the yard. Both of them were with two strikes."

Last season, it took Chisenhall 28 games with the Scrappers to collect 14 RBIs, and it wasn't until his 35th contest that he connected for his second homer.

Despite the recent power surge, however, Chisenhall isn't changing his approach at the plate.

"I'm not really worried about power at the moment," he said. "I'm just trying to hit gap-to-gap. As far as putting up power numbers, that's not really me. It's only two games in one series, but hopefully, it will continue."

The Indians scored 39 runs during the three-game set.

John Torenli is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.